The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-02
AResolution the Rev0lutionists Tried in Vain
to Keep Him from Offering as Ex-
pressive of the Peoples Will.
They Place Themselves on Record as
Firm Supporters of Lawless Acts.
Sketches of the Speeches and Incidents Of
the Discussion-Dead-Lock VIII Doubt
less Continue to the Sessions Close.

ressntative Roberts, one Of their number had |
the courage honesty and business to express by |
resolution and appeal his loyal to the people, |
Constitution ard law. This gentleman has de- |
nounced without limit, the acts of his party in
denying Lieutenant-governor Robertson his
rights He believes without reserve or desire to |
modify his position that there was a vacancy; |
that there was an election, and that the people |
by decisive plurality elected Robert S Robert |
son as their Lieutenant governor. The Demo
cratic revolutionists in the Senate and the Dem
cratic flibusters in the House have found no
sympathy from him. In this position he has
had the support Of Representative Bertram, Of
LaPorte, and while others think and believe as
they do, the crack Of the party lash has held
them to a sacrifice of nerve and decency, IN sus-
tanning the domination Of the Smith Bailey buc
cancers. Representative Roberts intended Mon
day afternoon to place himself on record in
refusing to have his convictions lost amid the
rebellious acts of his party, but cold chill at
the very suggestion of such proceeding went
down the spinal column Of the Democrats of the
2 House. They pestered him with their pleas for
mercy until he consented to postpone the matter
for time, but he did not propose to wait long,
for the House had not been in session an hour
yesterday morning before the preamble and res
olution was offered to this effect:
Whereas, Prior to the general election in 1886.
Hon. Mahlon D. Manson the then acting and lawfully
constituted ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF the State of In
diana. vacated said office by accepting qualifying and
entering upon the discharge of the duties of Office
under the laws of the United States and.
Whereas, After said Office vacated aforesaid
Hon. Francis T. Hord Attorney general of the State
of Indiana. the solicitation of Hon. Isaac P. Gray,
Governor of the State it as his opinion that a
vacancy existed in said Office of
and that the electors of this State might lawfully fill
the same by the election OF competent at the
then ensuing November election for the year 1886;
and,
Whereas, Acting upon the opinion of said Attorney.
general the political parties of this State respectively
placed in nomination for the sufrages of the people
candidate for the office of Lieutenant governor, and
thereafter: on the I'd day of November 1886. the
electors of the State believing that they had the
fu right to do so, voted for the candidate of their
choice for said Office in manner and form as the law
In such provides which resulted in the election
If Hon. Robert S. Robertson to such Office by the
free and untrammeled suffrages of the electors
aforesaid, verified by of the votes
s. fo s'S saf 1887
when said vote canvasscd as aforesaid; and,
Whereas The said Robertson on said 10th day Of
January. 1887 took the oath of Office according to
law, and has since been ready and willing to
ter upon the discharge of the duties of said office and
duties. controversy has arisen whether Hon. Alonzo
G.. Smith Hon. R. s. Robertson is lawfully entitled
TO preside the Senate in its deliberations; there
fore, belt
Resolved. by the House of Representatives (the
Senate concurfing That it is the sense of this Gen
efni Assembly that in all such controversies in the
absence of awell.defned rule of law touching such
controversy that al doubts should be thrown in favor
of the people acting in their sovereign capacity at
general election, such was held the I'd day oe
November, 1856 and therefore. surrenderng ali diff
ferences of opinion, and earnestly desiring and in
tending to recognize the action of the people in said
alection as an expression of their sovereign will,
declare it to be deliberate judgment that Hon.
Robert s. Robertson should be- and he hereby rec
ognized as the lawfully constituted Lieutenant
of the State of Indiana, and that he at
enter the discharge of the duties of said office
in obedience to the expressed will of the people at the
ballot-box on the I'd day of November, 1886.
The Democracy was affected as if it had been
flooded with a cold stream, aud it was with
becoming humility that Representa- tive Kellison
asked permission to offer substitute recitlng
the features and results of the controversy as
the Democrats say they understand them. 1t
held that as there be no possible settlement
Of the question by the only tribunal that now
could decide it the matter should be sent back
TO the people while the Legislature proceeded to
business it could perform. This came in conflict
with the action of the House in refusing to ree6e-
nize the Senate until that body recognized Lieu
tenant-governor Robertson. The reading of the
substitute had not gone very far until Speaker
Sayre declared it out Of order. This House."
he continued, has adopted a resolution, which
then became rule of action, to have no COM
munication with the Senate until Robert s.
Robertson is seated as Lieutenant. governor
This substitute comes in conflict with that reso-
luton, which must be considered as command
resting upon the House"
'Then Mr. Speaker" said Representative
Kellison, II will offer a resolution to expunge
that resolution from the record
"And that will be out OF order promptly re.
Piled the Speaker Representative Ibach. think
t~ch a chapc "a tho RAJ hliran
arose questioning the consideration of the Rob
ert's resolution on the point Of order applied to
the Kellison substitute. He said the Roberts
resolution concurrent and therefore con
hicted with the action of the House. 1T is no,
out of order, said the Speaker and the defeat eC
Representatives sat down, after Representative
Keson first talked about appealing to the
House and then announcing that he would pro
test against tho ruling
Representative Roberts then addressed tn.
Representatives, his periods being marked b,
generous applause from the Republican side
while the Democrats sat reckoning on the here
after which he SO clearly and forcbly detailed
Their position not comfortable. for it needed
but two or three more Of like courage to throw
them into panic. Representative Roberts said
Mr.. Speaker: The preamble and resolution JUS
read from the Clerks desk was prepared by me in n
factious spirit. They the result of solemn cor
victon of duty after than six weeks careful de
liberation. The paper recognizes the facts that va
cancv occurred prior to the November election i
1886 in the Office Of Lieutenant governor by the
ceptance by Mr. Manson. heretofore Iieutenantgov
ernor of Office under the laws of the United States
known the Governor of this State solicited the opir
ION of the Hon. Francis T. Hord then Attorney ger
eral who after careful consideration. it hi
opinion that vacancy had occurred in the Office
that it right and propor should be filled by tn
people at the ensuing November election. VI the en-
speak for it is recognized by al
Not voice from any quarter was raised adverse t
ties acquiesced in IL. The Democratic State